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Feds make 1,313 gang arrests since June   Send a link to a friend

[March 19, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal agents arrested 1,313 violent gang members in a three-month enforcement sweep across 23 cities from New York to San Diego, the government announced Tuesday.

Since 2005, law enforcement authorities have arrested more than 7,500 gang members through a federally led strategy of enforcing immigration laws to get violent gang members off the street.

"Violent foreign-born gang members and their associates have more than worn out their welcome, and to them I have one message: good riddance," said Julie Myers, assistant secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Of those arrested in the three-month sting, 1,053 are in the country illegally.

The nationwide anti-gang initiative, called "Operation Community Shield," has resulted in 2,444 criminal charges and 5,211 immigration-related charges, according to ICE. Agents seized 287 firearms and arrested 107 gang leaders across 19 states.

Number of arrests made by jurisdiction since July 1, according to the Homeland Security Department:

• New York and Long Island, 205

• Miami, 160

• San Diego, 128

• Dallas, 121

• Raleigh, N.C., 93

• Oklahoma City, 65

• Boston, 59

• Fort Myers, Fla., 59

• Washington, 55

• Chicago, 47

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• Phoenix, 47

• Fort Smith, Ark., 42

• Los Angeles, 37

• Boise, Idaho, 34

• St. Paul, Minn., 34

• Newark, N.J., 27

• Las Vegas, 26

• San Jose, Calif., 26

• Orlando, Fla., 17

• Indianapolis, 14

• Milwaukee, 9

• Detroit, 5

• Albuquerque, N.M., 3

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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